In-line diversion valve with flow-through capability

Abstract

An in-line diversion valve including a body and a plug assembled with the body. The body has an annular run extending axially from a first end opening configured to define a first port to a second end opening, and at least one annular branch extending radially from the run to a third end opening configured to define a second port of the valve. The plug extends coaxially with the body run from a first end received internally therewithin to a second end which extends externally beyond the body second end opening and which is configured to define a third port aligned coaxially with the first port. The plug is rotatable within the body and is formed as having a first passageway extending through the first and second ends thereof, and at least one perpendicular second passageway. The first passageway defines with the first and the third port a first fluid flow path, with the second passageway communicating with the first passageway in defining with the first fluid flow path and the second port a second fluid flow path. The second end of the plug is hand-accessible for the rotation of the plug between a first angular position wherein the second passageway is aligned coaxially with the body branch to open the second fluid flow path, and a second angular position wherein the second passageway is angularly displaced relative to the branch to close the second fluid flow path.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A valve assembly for directing fluid flow therethrough comprising: 
       a body having a generally-annular run portion which extends axially along a first axis from a first end opening configured to define a first fluid port of said valve assembly to a second end opening, and at least one generally-annular transverse portion which extends radially from said run portion intermediate said first and said second end opening along a second axis disposed generally perpendicular to said first axis to a third end opening configured to define a second fluid port of said valve assembly; and  
       a generally cylindrical plug member extending coaxially with the run portion of said body along said first axis from a first end received internally within said body intermediate said first and said third end opening thereof to a second end extending externally beyond the body second end opening and configured to define a third fluid port of said valve assembly aligned coaxially with said first fluid port and adapted for connection with a distal tube end, said plug member being rotatable within said body about said first axis and the tube end when said tube end is connected to said third fluid port, and having a first fluid passageway formed therein coaxially with said first axis through said first and said second end which first fluid passageway defines with said first and said third fluid port a first fluid flow path through said valve assembly, and said plug member having at least one second fluid passageway formed therein along a third axis disposed generally perpendicular to said first axis which second fluid passageway communicates with said first fluid passageway and defines with said first fluid flow path and said second fluid port a second fluid flow path through said valve assembly, said second end of said plug member being hand-accessible for rotating said plug between a first angular position wherein said third axis of said second fluid passageway is aligned coaxially with said second axis of said body transverse portion to open said second fluid flow path, and a second angular position wherein said third axis is angularly displaced relative to said second axis to close said second fluid flow path.  
     
     
       2. The valve assembly of claim  1  wherein said third fluid port is adapted for a releasable said connection with said distal tube end as being configured as having an internal gland defined within the second end of said plug member coaxially with said first fluid passageway, said valve assembly further comprising at least one annular collet member which extends coaxially with said first axis from an internal end journaled within said gland to an external end, said collet member being slidably movable within the gland intermediate a rearward position and a forward position spaced-apart axially from the rearward position, the rearward position accommodating a radial outward expansion of said collet member for the insertion and removal of the tube end therethrough, and the forward position effecting a radially inward contraction of said collet member about the tube end delimiting the removal thereof from said collet member, said plug member being provided to be rotatable about said collet member and the first distal tube end when the tube end is connected to said second fluid port by said collet member. 
     
     
       3. The valve assembly of claim  2  wherein one or both said first and said second fluid port is adapted for a releasable connection with a corresponding said distal tube end as being configured as having a said internal gland defined within, respectively, said first and said third end opening of said body coaxially with, respectively, said first and said second fluid passageway, each said internal gland defined within said body first and said third end opening receiving a said collet member. 
     
     
       4. The valve assembly of claim  1  wherein one or both said first and said second fluid port is adapted for a releasable connection with a corresponding distal tube end as being configured as having an internal gland defined within, respectively, said first and said third end opening of said body coaxially with, respectively, said first and said second fluid passageway, said valve assembly further comprising one or more annular collet members each of which extends coaxially with said first or said axis from an internal end journaled within a corresponding said gland to an external end, each said collet member being slidably movable within each said corresponding gland intermediate a rearward position and a forward position spaced-apart axially from the rearward position, the rearward position accommodating a radial outward expansion of the collet member for the insertion and removal of the tube end therethrough, and the forward position effecting a radially inward contraction of the collet member about the tube end delimiting the removal thereof from the collet. 
     
     
       5. The valve assembly of claim  1  wherein said plug member is formed as having an outer radial surface including a circumferential groove, and wherein said body run portion is formed as having a slot of a given peripheral extent disposed in registration with said plug member groove, said valve assembly further comprising a fastening member for retaining said plug member within said body run portion, said fastening member including an inward clip portion inserted through said slot into retention within said plug member groove, and an outward abutment portion engagable with the peripheral extent of said slot delimiting the axial removal of said plug member from said body run portion. 
     
     
       6. The valve assembly of claim  5  wherein said clip portion of said fastening member is configured as a having at least one radially-outwardly extending shoulder and wherein said body run portion is formed as having at least one detent surface engagable with said shoulder for delimiting the radial removal of said fastening member from said slot. 
     
     
       7. The valve assembly of claim  1  wherein the second end opening of said body run portion is formed as having a semicircular groove extending radially about said first axis intermediate a first and a second stop surface, and wherein said plug member second end is formed as having a semicircular ring with extends radially about the circumference thereof intermediate a first and a second end surface, said ring being slidably received within said groove such that in said first angular position of said plug member, one said end surface of said ring abuttably engages one said stop surface of said groove delimiting the angular displacement of said plug in a first angular direction, and wherein in said second angular position the other said end surface of said ring abuttably engages the other said stop surface of said groove delimiting the angular displacement of said plug in a second angular direction opposite said first angular direction. 
     
     
       8. The valve assembly of claim  7  wherein said plug member second end is configured as a knob including first indicia, and wherein said body is formed as having an outer surface including second indicia, said first indicia being disposed in a first visually-perceptible indicating alignment with said second indicia when said plug is disposed in said first angular position, and in a second visually-perceptible indicating alignment with said second indicia when said plug is disposed in said second angular position. 
     
     
       9. The valve assembly of claim  1  further wherein said plug member has an outer radial surface including an annular groove defined therein generally concentrically about the second fluid passageway, and wherein said body run portion has an inner radial surface disposed opposite the inner radial surface of said plug member, said valve assembly further comprising an annular seal member received within said groove and compressible against said inner radial surface of said body run portion to effect a fluid tight sealing of said second fluid passageway. 
     
     
       10. The valve assembly of claim  9  wherein said groove is defined within said plug member as having an outer side wall of a generally elliptical geometry and an inner side wall of a generally circular geometry. 
     
     
       11. The valve assembly of claim  10  wherein said inner side wall is defined by a generally circular insert which is fitted into said plug member. 
     
     
       12. The valve assembly of claim  9  wherein said body is formed as having a generally hyperbolic-shaped web which extends radially across said second fluid flow path intermediate said run portion and said transverse portion, said seal member being compressibly retained within said groove against said web as said plug member is rotated between said first and said angular second position. 
     
     
       13. A valve assembly for directing fluid flow therethrough comprising: 
       a body having a generally-annular run portion which extends axially along a first axis from a first end opening configured to define a first fluid port of said valve assembly to a second end opening, and at least one generally-annular transverse portion which extends radially from said run portion intermediate said first and said second end opening along a second axis disposed generally perpendicular to said first axis to a third end opening configured to define a second fluid port of said valve assembly, said body run portion being formed as having a slot of a given peripheral extent;  
       a generally cylindrical plug member extending coaxially with the run portion of said body along said first axis from a first end received internally within said body intermediate said first and said third end opening thereof to a second end extending externally beyond the body second end opening and configured to define a third fluid port of said valve assembly aligned coaxially with said first fluid port, said plug member being formed as having an outer radial surface including a circumferential groove disposed in registration with said body run portion slot, and being rotatable within said body about said first axis and having a first fluid passageway formed therein coaxially with said first axis through said first and said second end which first fluid passageway defines with said first and said third fluid port a first fluid flow path through said valve assembly, and said plug member having at least one second fluid passageway formed therein along a third axis disposed generally perpendicular to said first axis which second fluid passageway communicates with said first fluid passageway and defines with said first fluid flow path and said second fluid port a second fluid flow path through said valve assembly, said second end of said plug member being hand-accessible for rotating said plug between a first angular position wherein said third axis of said second fluid passageway is aligned coaxially with said second axis of said body transverse portion to open said second fluid flow path, and a second angular position wherein said third axis is angularly displaced relative to said second axis to close said second fluid flow path; and  
       a fastening member for retaining said plug member within said body run portion, said fastening member including an inward clip portion inserted through said body run portion slot into retention within said plug member groove, and an outward abutment portion engagable with the peripheral extent of said slot delimiting the axial removal of said plug member from said body run portion.  
     
     
       14. A valve assembly for directing fluid flow therethrough comprising: 
       a body having a generally-annular run portion which extends axially along a first axis from a first end opening configured to define a first fluid port of said valve assembly to a second end opening, and at least one generally-annular transverse portion which extends radially from said run portion intermediate said first and said second end opening along a second axis disposed generally perpendicular to said first axis to a third end opening configured to define a second fluid port of said valve assembly, said body run portion having an inner radial surface, and said body being formed as having a generally hyperbolic-shaped web which extends radially across said second fluid flow path intermediate said run portion and said transverse portion;  
       a generally cylindrical plug member extending coaxially with the run portion of said body along said first axis from a first end received internally within said body intermediate said first and said third end opening thereof to a second end extending externally beyond the body second end opening and configured to define a third fluid port of said valve assembly aligned coaxially with said first fluid port, said plug member being rotatable within said body about said first axis and having a first fluid passageway formed therein coaxially with said first axis through said first and said second end which first fluid passageway defines with said first and said third fluid port a first fluid flow path through said valve assembly, and said plug member having at least one second fluid passageway formed therein along a third axis disposed generally perpendicular to said first axis which second fluid passageway communicates with said first fluid passageway and defines with said first fluid flow path and said second fluid port a second fluid flow path through said valve assembly, said plug member having an outer radial surface disposed opposite the inner radial surface of said body run portion and including an annular groove defined therein generally concentrically about the second fluid passageway, and said second end of said plug member being hand-accessible for rotating said plug between a first angular position wherein said third axis of said second fluid passageway is aligned coaxially with said second axis of said body transverse portion to open said second fluid flow path, and a second angular position wherein said third axis is angularly displaced relative to said second axis to close said second fluid flow path; and  
       an annular seal member received within said groove and compressible against said inner radial surface of said body run portion to effect a fluid tight sealing of said second fluid passageway, said seal member being compressibly retained within said groove against said web as said plug member is rotated between said first and said angular second position.